The late parents of sisters Raeleene Eldridge, Tracey and Christine spent 28 years at the Rowville home, which sold for $850,000.
Three sisters who lost both parents within 11 months have sold the Rowville home that held 28 years of family memories for $850,000.
Raeleene Eldridge, Tracey and Christine watched through “torrential rain” as 48 Stamford Cres sold at the top of its $780,000-$850,000 guide on Saturday.
The three-bedroom home was bought by a first-home buyer moving from Glen Iris.
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Bidding opened at $780,000 before Ray White auctioneer Fabian Sanelli placed an $800,000 seller bid.
The buyer returned at $820,000, prompting Ray White Ferntree Gully agent Sam Sassoon to seek instructions from the sisters.
They told him $850,000 would secure the home.
The buyer lifted their offer to that figure, the property was declared on the market and the hammer fell.
Two bidders had registered, although only one was active. Another prospective buyer, expected to bid by phone from Thailand, could not be reached.
The three-bedroom home at 48 Stamford Cres, Rowville, sold at the top of its $780,000-$850,000 price guide.
The home attracted 35 groups during its three-week campaign before selling to a first-home buyer moving from Glen Iris.
The campaign attracted 35 groups over three weeks.
When the auction ended and the new owners went inside, Ms Eldridge walked into the backyard and cried.
“It was emotional, but it was a relief,” she said.
“We haven’t really had a chance to grieve, to be fair.
“This is the first time I’ve actually had to take a breath and be grateful.”
The rear deck replaced an above-ground pool that first attracted the sisters’ mother to the home 28 years ago.
Bidding opened at $780,000 before the eventual buyer lifted their offer to $850,000 to secure the Rowville property.
The sisters’ mother died in May 2025, aged 85. Their father died in April this year, aged 92.
Ms Eldridge said her parents had raised their daughters in Richmond without much money but gave them “the best childhood”.
Her mother was outspoken and quick-witted, while her father was the quiet one.
“My dad was the quiet achiever that sat beside her,” she said.
“We used to call him her wingman.”
When the couple first inspected the Rowville house 28 years ago, Ms Eldridge said her mother immediately declared: “I’m buying this house. This is my house.”
The rear entertaining area replaced the swimming pool the sisters’ mother had hoped would become a gathering place for her grandchil
The attraction was an above-ground swimming pool where she imagined her grandchildren spending family days together.
“She bought that house on the hope that it would bring memories to us,” Ms Eldridge said.
His sanctuary was the garage, filled with tools, keepsakes and family history.
Ms Eldridge said her father valued Mr Sassoon’s appraisal visits because the agent gave the naturally quiet man time to talk.
“Nice young man, that man,” her father would tell her. “He let me tell my stories.”
Cleaning out the home after his death revealed how much family history he had kept, including photographs and a tin of Matchbox cars.
Clearing the family home after their father’s death uncovered decades of photographs, keepsakes and childhood memories.
Inside was a handwritten instruction: “Do not give these to the kids to play. They are worth a fortune.”
“From the grave, he was telling us not to give these cars away to the kids to play,” Ms Eldridge said.
“Mind you, they weren’t worth a fortune.”
Knowing the property would remain a home rather than be cleared for redevelopment made the sale more meaningful.
“My first reaction is my dad would love that,” Ms Eldridge said.
She said her parents would have been devastated if it had been demolished for townhouses, but delighted a young couple was starting its own chapter there.
“They’d be absolutely over the moon knowing it’s going to a couple that love it,” she said.
Settlement is due on November 2, the birthday of the sisters’ late mother, a coincidence the family discovered after the sale.
Then came one final coincidence.
Settlement is due on November 2, her late mother’s birthday. The date had not been deliberately chosen.
“We just all looked at each other and went, ‘That’s a joke. You’re joking, are you?’” Ms Eldridge said.
Her father had spent years telling anyone willing to listen: “I’ve got the best three daughters in the world.”
1. The sisters said their parents would have been delighted the property was bought as a home rather than for redevelopment.
The sisters always gave him the same answer.
“No Dad, we’ve actually got the best parents.”
Ms Eldridge had little doubt how they would have celebrated.
“Mum would have a champagne in her hand,” she said.
“Dad would have a cup of coffee.”
